The representatives of public organizations, state bodies, the students of Chechnya and neighboring regions are taking part in the rally. The demonstrators hold posters "You need great shocks, we need a great Russia, "I am for Kadyrov" and others.

The rally is expected to draw more than 700,000 people.

"We want to strongly oppose those who throw mud at the country, call to impose sanctions on Russia and attempt to whip up tensions," the event’s organizer, the chairman of Chechnya’s Council of Trade Unions, Husain Soltagereyev, told TASS.

"We are in favor of a stable development of the whole country and the Chechen republic. We also want to express our support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the republic’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov," he said.

Last year, one million people attended the rally in downtown Grozny against publications of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons. The event was organized amid a solidarity march for the victims of terrorist attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.